Page 71 of The Hunter's Empire

The smile is somehow worse. "Of course you do."

He reaches up as if to brush a loose strand of hair away from her face. But Roisin flinches. And that is the moment my patience snaps.

I step out from behind the corner. "Roisin! There you are."

Both of them turn toward me and I see relief flash across Roisin's face so quickly that she probably doesn't even realize I see it. Conall notices it too. His expression darkens immediately.

I walk straight toward them, smiling as though I haven't interrupted anything at all.

"I've been looking everywhere for you." I say lightly. "You disappeared before I could ask you something."

"Vivienne."

Conall's voice is pleasant. His eyes are not. "This is a private family conversation."

"Is it?" I glance between them before looking back at him. "My mistake."

I stop beside Roisin. Close enough that Conall has no choice but to step back. I see genuine irritation flash across his face.

"We were discussing her engagement."

"How lovely." The smile remains firmly fixed on my face. "Then I suppose I'll leave you to it."

But I don't move. Neither does he. The silence stretches.

Finally, I tilt my head slightly. "Although I have to admit, from a distance it looked rather intense."

Conall's jaw tightens. "I'm not sure what you're implying."

"Oh, nothing at all." My smile widens. "I simply thought that with so many important guests staying in the estate, misunderstandings would be unfortunate."

For a moment, neither of us speaks. The air between us feels razor sharp. Conall understands exactly what I'm saying. More importantly, he understands that I know.

The realization settles visibly across his face. The annoyance of a man who has been interrupted before getting what he wants.

Eventually he adjusts the cuff of his jacket. "Naturally."

His gaze shifts to Roisin before returning to me. "Enjoy the rest of your afternoon, ladies."

Then he walks away.

I wait until his footsteps disappear around the corner before looking at Roisin. The moment he is gone, her entire body seemsto deflate. As though she has been holding her breath the entire time.

"Come on." I gently take her hand. She doesn't argue or pull away. She simply follows me.

I lead her through the manor and into her room before closing the door quietly behind us. Only then do I turn back toward her. She stands near the window with her head lowered, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

I step closer and reach for her shoulder, waiting until she finally lifts her head.

"Listen to me, Roisin." My voice is quieter now, but no less firm. "You are not a property."

Fresh tears spill down her cheeks.

"You are not something your family gets to trade away whenever it benefits them. You are not a contract. You are not an alliance. And you are certainly not a prize to be handed to a man simply because it makes somebody else's life easier."

She stares at me as though she has never heard anyone speak this way before. As though the idea itself is unfamiliar.

"You are a person, Roisin." I continue. "You deserve to make your own choices. You deserve to decide who you love, who you trust, who to marry, and what kind of future you want for yourself. Most importantly, you deserve to feel safe in your own home."